The Heroes of Olympus, #2
The Son of Neptune
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XLIV Hazel
Overview
Hazel, Percy, and Frank reach Thanatos, only to find him chained and guarded by Roman shades serving Alcyoneus. Thanatos reveals that freeing Death will doom the treacherous shades and can be done only with the “fire of life,” implicating Frank. As the moral stakes sharpen, Alcyoneus arrives to confront them.
Summary
Hazel, Percy, and Frank reach the crossroads on Hubbard Glacier and find a ring of about a hundred Roman shades surrounding the chained god Thanatos. The ghosts bear Imperial gold and old legion standards, their power humming in the air. Hazel considers using her metal control but fears catastrophic backlash.
Thanatos reveals himself—beautiful and remote—and confirms the shades serve Alcyoneus, not him. Percy’s attempt to hack the icy chains with Riptide fails, frosting the blade. Thanatos challenges Hazel: freeing Death will send the traitorous shades back to the Underworld for punishment. He reminds Frank that fairness has no place in death, reopening Frank’s grief over his mother.
Pressed for a method, Thanatos says only “the fire of life” can melt his chains. Frank understands the implication, while Hazel begs for another way. The trio faces the dilemma: to free Death, they must risk Frank and condemn the ghosts, yet delaying invites disaster.
Before they can act, Alcyoneus arrives in full strength—golden-skinned, platinum-armored, iron staff in hand—boasting that the shades are the heroes’ “new legion.” He claims mastery over Death, taunts Hazel for delaying his rise decades earlier, and sets the stage for the coming battle at the glacier.
Who Appears
- Hazel LevesquePOV; confronts Thanatos and the shades, rejects fear, demands the method to break Death’s chains.
- ThanatosDeath; chained on the glacier, reveals the shades serve Alcyoneus and only the “fire of life” can free him.
- Frank ZhangRealizes he may be the key to freeing Thanatos; rattled by Death’s reminder of his mother and fate.
- Percy JacksonAttempts to cut Thanatos’s chains with Riptide; pushes for direct action amid rising stakes.
- AlcyoneusGiant, bane of Pluto; arrives claiming control of the shades and taunting Hazel for thwarting his rise.
- Roman ShadesGhostly former legionnaires promised rebirth by Gaea; encircle the heroes and guard Thanatos.